Rear-axle structure.



E. P; GOWLES.

REAR AXLE STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7,1912.

Patented Sept. 1, 19.14

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INVENTOR W/ZYVESSES 4. 66 5 WWW Allaruey B. PSCOWLES. REAR AXLE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1912." I 1,108,889. v Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

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B. P. GOWLES. REAR AXLE STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED we. 7. 1912.

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E. P. COWLES. REAR AXLE STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 7, 1912.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

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UNITED 'STA'IES PATENT ,FFIGE.

EDWARD P. COWLES, OF SPARTA, MICHIGAN, ASS IGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO'PACKARCD MOTOR CAR COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 'A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

REAR-AXLE STRUGTURE.

Original application filed September 6,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD I. Cownns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparta, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rear-Axle Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my application SerialNo. 74, 197, filedSeptember 6, 1901. .7

My present invention relates to improvements in motor vehicles and particularly to the. running gear of such vehicles.

rovide a motor vehicle frame of maximum strength and elasticity and of minimum weight, the various members of which can be assembled without brazing and can be conveniently separated and taken apart.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the driving axle and the driving mechanism that the revolving plane of the driving wheels may stand out radially to the curved section of a road bed.

With these and other ob ects in view, the invention c'ohsists in the construction and arrangement of parts described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor. vehicle eml adying the invention, parts being in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of same with body removed and parts bl'OliGItflWilYf,

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the vehicle; Fig. +1 is a vertical section through the driving axle and differential mechanism, with other parts of the vehicle shown in elevation; and Fig. 5' is a vertical section through a modified form of driving axle, adapted also for steering.

In the drawings there is illustrated amo tor vehicle comprising suitable body 118 which is supported by springs 127 on the front axle 1.0 and rear axle 81. These axles are shown as connected by tubular reach bars 81 which reach bars are also connected by a cross bar 89 by T-shaped couplings 91. The connections between the reach, bars and the axles are also shown as formed by long hearing T-shaped couplings 85 in whichv the reach bars and axles are free to turn. Pref- Specification of Letters Patent.

1901, Serial No. 7 1,4197. Divided and, this agplieation filed August 7, 1912. Serial No. 713,931.

One of the objects of the inventioniis to opposite Patented Septzl, 1914.

erably I arrange the member of each of these T-shaped couplings through which the reach bars pass above the member through which the aXle passes as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3. That part 86 of the reach bars which passes through the couplings 8:5 is reduced sowewhat leaving a shoulder 87 which bears against the end of the coupling.

On the end of the reach bar is a nut and washer 98 which bears against the opposite end of the coupling.

In Figs. 1 and 2 a suitable steering mechanism is illustrated but as this feature islnot claimed in this application a specific description thereof is not considered necessary. Thepatentable features illustrated but not herein claimed are covered by my application Serial No. 71,497 or other divisions thereof.

The body 118 is directly mounted upon a frame 112 which is composed of two U- shapcd pieces of tubing with their straight ends joined together aS at 113 forming a frame preferably with semi-circular ends and straight sides. The exact form of this fra1'ne,-however, is immaterial for the pur poses of this invention. Also supported on the fr.-me 112 is the motor 113 of any suitable con iruction but shown as of the internal combustion type with a fly Wheel 1413.

The driving gear from the motorto the rear axle is substantially of that form shown and described in my Patent 654,716, dated July 31, 1900. This driving gear consists of a driven disk 104; mounted at the middle of a countersha'ft 105 which is supported in bearings 28 on the rear axle yoke 82, hereinafter described. At its middle the shaft 105 is connected by differential gearing 25 to the disk 104. Engaging frictionally with sides of the disk 10a: are two driving gears or friction rollers 90 with their points of contact opposite. These gears or rollers are preferably driven directly Bland a central member or. yoke 82 which so -/ing or supports the tubes 81 that their axes are at slight angles to each other giving an archcambered effect.

A forwardly extending" portion of the yoke 82 supports the gears 90 and the mechanism for moving them radially of the disk 10 1 to get the required variations in speed or leverage, and this part 82 is supported by the cross bar 89 hereinabove. described. Thiscross bar 89 therefore prevents the yoke 82 from turning under the reaction of the driving gear 90 as will be understood. Said yoke 82, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, is composed of two parts bolted together forming semi-hubs 93, 93, in which the tubular portions 81 of said axle are inserted and securely clamped. These tubes bear'the weight and strain of the vehicle through the roller bearings 27 on their outer ends. It is obvious that the strain is greatest at the point 94, Where the tubes enter the yoke hubs 93, and if means were not used to strengthen them here all the strain and vibration would concentrate at this point and the metal would soon crystallize and eventually break. To guard against this I reinforce tube 81 by slipping a tube or sleeve 95, the inside diameter of which is large enough to fit closely the outside of the axle tube 81, over the inner end of the latter. This sleeve enters and is clamped in semi-hub 93, with axle tube'81.- Both tubes are threaded for about one-half inch on the extreme ends that enter the hub 93, to engage corresponding threads 96, 96 in the semi-hub 93, which prevents the tubes from working out of said hubs or becoming loose therein from the constant jar these, parts are subject to. Besides reinforcing tube 81, the tube95 serves another important purpose. It is extended through the axle member of the T-sh'aped coupling 85, Whichbears on the axle 81 just outside of the yoke hub 93, and extends about half way down axle 81, serving as a seat or'bearing for the coupling 85, and to protect the axle from the wear of same. Notwithstanding the motion between the couplings 85 and the'axles orreach bars is very slight, they keep up a constant chafing thereon, and would eventually we'ar and weaken. them\ The tubes 95 project about an inch beyond the outer end of the couplings and this end is made taperin and threaded and has a slit 97 on each si e. A nut 98 clamps said end of the tube 95 firmly on axle 81. This nut also serves as a shoulder to retain the coupling 85 in place. Axle tube 81, being thin and subjected to great compression in semi-hub 93 would be liable under great strain, to cookie or compress when it leaves" the hub edge. 94. To

avoid this I reinforce it byarranging a short ring or tube 99 on the inside just under this point and extend it along the axle a short distance to further reinforce the axle' at this point. A similar rcinforcing ring 99 is arranged at the extreme inner end of the axle tube 81.

The roller race 101 ofthe rear axle bearing ,Itubes much the same as in a vi'se, the outside hubs answering for one aw of the vise and the inside reinforcing rings or tubesfor the other.

It will befsee'n that this feature of a combined clamp and thread joint with reinforcements, is used throughout the construction,

and takes theplace' of' the usual brazed joints. Ihey are fully as strong and secure, and have the advantage of being easily and conveniently assembled and taken "apart.

The metal is not injured by overheating. 4

They are much more elastic. It will be observed that the axles are built up'somewhat like a plate spring, and the principle is much the same, distributing the strain and vibration evenly over every part, making them very strong and elastic. Absoluterigidity 'in a structure subject to constantjar and concussion is objectionable, and-this system gives suflicient elasticity to absorb the-vibrap tion and also permits of the various parts being made of steel and hardened. u

The counter-shaft 105 has at its outer ends pinions 106 whichintermesh with spur gears 107 secured to the inner ends of drlving shafts 8'3 whieh extend through the tubes 81. By making the faces of gears 107 .and'

pinions 106 slightly conical and cutting the teeth slightly skewing I am able to make the) driving axle arching so as tomake the revolving plane of the driving wheels stand out radial with the curved section of a road bed.

Each gear wheel 107 is fitted securely'to its shaft 83 in such manner as to be easily removed, and is splined to the shaft to pre-' vent rotation thereon. The end of shaft 83-,

entering hub of gear wheel 107, is split'asv at 110, Fig. 4, and provided with an interior tapering thread. A tapering externally threaded plug 111 is secured within this end ,of the shaft to expand it and hold the gear By simply unscrewing plug wheel thereon. 111 gear wheel 107 ian be removed and driv ing shaft 83 drawn out from the outside, giving free access to roller bearings 27, 27'. Each of these driving shafts 83 is shown as comprising an outer tubular member and an inner solid m'emberor rod 23. and it is mounted in independent bearings 27, 27-,

adjacent the outer and inner ends respectively of its tube 81. The outer bearing 27,

run

mosses shown as of the roller type, is directly mounted in the piece 10", while the inner bearing 27 is directly mounted in themember 93, hereinabove described. The driving shaft 83' extends beyond the ends of the tubes 81 and each has thereon a spool or bearing membenz which is suitably keyed to said shaft 83 to turn with it.

'33 he vehicle driving wheels 8, shovvn'as of the wire spoke type, are suitably mounted on he spool 24 so that they may be quickly and easily removed therefrom. The hub 2 of the wheel isforined with a web 4 and a boss 21 which is bored out so as to fit closely over the spool 24 and the boss is provided with series of teeth that engage corresponding teeth on a s 'ulder 26 at the inner end. of the spool 2% l to the roller bearing 27. A cap nut forces the teeth on the boss 21 into eng" ment with the shoulder 26 thus retain g the Wheel securely on the end of the driving shaft 23.

It will be obsc red tha the roller bearing 27 of the driving axle is extended inside of the hub of the driving wheel well toward the center thereof thereby relieving the driving axle of much strain in carrying the weight of the vehicle. It will also be observed upon reference to Fi L, 3 and 4; that the rim of the wheel 8 being arranged approximately midway between the flanges of the hub 2, and the other tubes being sligatly arched or cambercd, the treads of the wheels at the points of contact with the ground will be approximately vertically in line with the respective bearings 27, thus further rrlicv ing the axle 23 of bending strains.

A slightly modified hub is shown in Fig. 5. in this case the wheel is both a driving and a steering wheel and the hub is shown as consisting of a tubular body 151 to which the driving a Xle 83 or its innrr member 23 is attachedby a universal joint 15:3 arranged in the ventral plane of revolution of the wheel and permitting the latter while receiving the rotating power of thc driving axle 8;; to oscillate freely in a substantially horizontal plane, The inner end of the tubular body 1.31 of the hub engages with a suav-blorh lifihhaving a horilccnlal slot 1.3-1 slidingon the axle. 'lliis holds the wheel ri' idly upright whilrallowii'ig it in oscillate to conform to the direction of the motion of the which. is adjusted 'l hr sway-block l3!) horizontally to turn the wheel in steer the vehicle by suitable, merbanism not shown.

Having described any invention what i claim and desire to secure by letters latent is,

l: in a motor vehicle, the combiuathm of a divided tubular axle, a yoke connerting the inner ends of the sections of said axle, driving shafts extending through said sections and, alined passagesin the yoke, a gear wheel fitted about each of said shafts within the yoke, a removable plug fitted in a socket at the inner end of the shaft and adapted to expand the latter to firmly connect it to the gear Wheel, and a countershaft having pinions meshing with said gears.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a divided tubular axle, a yoke connecting the inner ends of the sections of said axle, tubular driving shafts extending through the sections of the axle and having their inner ends projecting beyond the inner faces of the sides of the yoke, said inner ends of the driving shafts being interiorly threaded and divided by a longitudinal slit, a gear fitted on said inner end of each of said shafts, a threaded plug adapted to be.

screwed into said split and interiorly threaded shaft end to clamp the shaft and gear to gether, and a countcrshaft having pinions adapted to drive said gears.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a pair of tubular axle sections, a member connecting said tubular axles so that their axes are at slight angles to each other forming an arch, driving shafts arranged centrally within said axle sections, gears at the inner ends of said shafts, and a horizontally-arranged counter-shaft having gears thereon meshing with the gears upon the driving shaft.

iiln a motor vehicle, the combination with a pair of tubular axle sections, of a n'u-mbcr connecting the inner ends of said axle sections, said axle sections being arranged so that their axes are at an angle to each other, driving shaft: within said axle vsections, d'ill'ercntial gearing having driving connection with said shafts and i'nountrd in said connecting;- member in bearingsind pemh-nt of said shafts, and road wheels diroctly connected to the onto! ends of said driving shafts.

5. .In a motor vehicle, the combination with a tubular supporting axle, of a. divided driving shaft within the axle, a wheel hub secured to and supported by the shaft and having a hollow spoke bearing .lllflnlwr tending inwardly over the tulmlar end of the axle, and a bearing liotwvon said shaft and axle within the hub.

(l. in a motor vehicle. the combination with the tubular supporting axle, of a divided driving shaft therein. a. bearing for a shall; section on thcinside ol' the end of the axle, and a. wheel secured to and supported by said shaft section and having a hub extending inwardly around the tubular axle end and its bearing.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a. tubular axle, of a dividcd driving shaft therein, a differential gearing mount ed on bearings independei'lt of said driving shaft and having connection therewith, independent hearings in said tubular axle at the inner and outer ends ofv each of said shaft projecting beyond the ends of the axle,

driving shaft sectionsjsaid .shaftsections projecting beyond the ends-of said tubular axle, and drivmg road wheels mounted on the projecting ends of said shaft sections and supporting said tubular axle wholly therethrough. I I

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a tubularaxle, of adivided driving.

- shaft therein and projecting beyond the ends thereof, a difle'rential gearing, mounted on bearings independent of said driving shaft,

7 a driving connection between said gearing and the sections "of-said driving shaft, bearings for the inner ends of said sections, bearings in theoute'r ends of said'tubular-axle for supporting said driving shaft, and driving road wheels mounted 'onithe projecting ends. of said driving shaft, and supporting said axle wholly therethrough.

9, Ina motor vehicle, the combination with a stationary supporting axle, of a' divided' drivin shaft therein, .a differential gearing suita 1y connecting the sections of saidshaft, bearings for the drivin shaft at the outer ends of the axle, said r'iving and wheeis mounted on and having a drivconnection with the projecting ends of said shaft, the rims of, the wheels being so constructed and located relative to their hubs, and the wheel axes being so inclined,

that the treads of the wheels at the points of contact with the ground are approximatelyvertically in line with said bearings respectively. 4 t a 10. In a motor vehicle, the combination with astation'ary supporting axle vertically arched, of a divided driving shaft therein,

a differential gearing supported by said supporting axle independently of said driving shaft, driving connections between said differential gearing and the sections of said driving shaft permitting said sections to be operated with their axes at slight angles to the axis of said differential caring, road wheels rotatably'mounted at t e outer ends of. said supporting axle with their revolving planes slightly inclined to the vertical, teeth or projections on the road Wheels and simi-' lar parts at the ends of'th'jllriving shaft sections coiiperating therewith, and means for holding 'sai parts in engagement where 12. In a motor vehicle, the combination anoaeee with a pair of tubulanaxle sections, ameniber connecting the innerirends ofa id axle sections, anda roller race =secured, to the outer end, ofeach axle section, of driving shafts within said axle sections having bear-.1

. .ings in'said member-and. in said roller races, a differential gearing connecting said shafts and mounted in bearings in said connectin' member independentlyof said shafts,-an

road wheels at the outer ends of said shafts, 13. Ina motor vehicle, the combination with a tubular axle, of a divided-driving shaft therein, bearing members rigidly keyed to the outer ends of said shaft, road wheels having hubs detachably mounted on said bearing members to turntherewith, said hubs having hollow spoke bearing meme bers extending inwardly over the tubular ends of the axle, and supporting bearings at the outer ends of the axle within'said hubs; t r

14; In a motor vehicle, the combination with a tubular supporting axle, of a divided driving shaft therein comprising non-flexie ble sections, a wheel hub rigidly secured to the outer end of each shaft section and having a hollow spoke bearing member extending inwardly over the tubular. end of the axle, and supporting bearings at the outer ends of the axle within said hubs.

15. In a motor vehicle the combination with a tubular-supporting axle, of a divided driving shaft therein comprising non-fiexible sections, a. wheel hub rigidly secured to the outer end of each shaft section and having a hollow spoke bearing member extending'inwa-rdly over the tubular end of the axle, and a bearing at each of the outer ends of the axle within said hub for supporting both said hub and the outer end of said shaft section, one through the other. 16. In a motorwehicle, the combination with a supporting axle comprising tubular end parts and a central member,,of a difier:

'ential gearing independently mounted in bearings directly in said central member, wheels at the outer ends of said axle having spoke bearing hubs; extending inwardly over the tubular ends of the axle, a sectional driving shaft extending through the tubular parts of the axle and having driving connection with said differential gearing, said shaft having means at its outer ends forming driving. connections with said wheels, bearings at the outer ends of the axle within said hubs for supporting both the wheels and the outer ends ofthe drivh a'ftQQne through the other, and devices ing s removable independently of said bearings for maintaining said latter driving connections.

17 In a motor vehicle, in combination, a tubular supporting axle, driving axle sec tions therein, differential gearing connect ing the inner ends of said sections, wheels 

